An Important Reason Why You Need to Achieve Your Goals

Zig Ziglar said it best, "what you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."

The other night I was playing doubles with an extremely competitive group.  My opponent struck the ball so hard at me that I fell backwards while returning a volley at the net.  I managed to raise my racquet while squatting down on my derriere.  He charged like an angry bull on a mission to conquer the matador in the arena.  My raised racquet was not a sign of surrender and my opponent knew it.  He did the right thing by pouncing on me with a second bullet to my body while I was still down.  I popped a volley cross court between the two men and it floated to the baseline like a pop fly.  I jumped back on my feet and closed the net while my opponent chased the ball and somehow kept the point alive.  We didn't win the point but it didn't matter.  What was important to me was knowing who I have become – a fighter who has a passion for winning against all odds.

The one I follow fell three times before he achieved his final objective.  He taught me you always get back up after every fall.  This is a good lesson for all of us.  Have a great day.

Winning Habits

Habits are a two-sided coin.  Heads, you win.  Tails, you lose.  If your life is the way you want it to be, congratulations.  You found a way to win consistently, just like Vince Lombardi.  Today's story is for those who are stuck on the tails side of the coin.  You're only a coin toss away from turning your life around.

I was watching a TV show with my wife the other night and one of the characters was in a counseling session about a problem.  His psychiatrist answered him by saying, "it's a jump ball."  My take on the answer is the problem can go either way, like a coin toss.  In my opinion, there's a way to land on heads with some good planning, a great attitude and a willingness to be consistent.  Go after that jump ball and whatever you do, don't let your opponent get the upper hand.  Practice daily.  Work on your moves.  Don't freak out when you think theres' a shark in the water while you're doing your training laps.  There's a 50% chance it's only a porpoise.  Keep swimming.  Have a great day.

Fun, Games and Debt Reduction

I have my game face on.  This is what I do when I'm up against a fierce competitor.  It's all about a winning attitude.  My secret weapon is visualization.  It's like taking a sneak peek into the future and seeing that finish line along with all the rewards that come with it.

What name to you give your opponent when you're fighting someone or something you can't see in front of you?  That's what debt reduction is – an opponent without a face.  I picture my challenger as a mountain I must climb, a marathon I must win and most recently, a 36-hole golf course I must conquer before sunset on the last day of the year three years, one month and two days from today.  Yes, a golf course.  Why?  Because most people want to be on the golf course.  That's where the fun is.  Debt reduction can be fun if you know how to play the game and you choose to make it fun.

I'm sharing my strategy for the first twelve holes on my imaginary golf course and my opponent is ABC Mortgage.  We're going mano y mano.  I've been buying his cigars and supporting his luxurious lifestyle ever since I bought my first property in my 20's.  When these 36 holes are done, so is Mr. ABC Mortgage.  He's going down.  I designed my game around my strengths and they have nothing to do with my golf swing as entertaining as my form may be to my readers.  The third hole comes with two weeks in Maui, already prepaid to keep me focused on par.  The 5th hole comes with a stay in Phoenix, mostly prepaid with the exception of a rental car.  The 7rh hole includes one week prepaid in Aruba.  If I make par in the first nine holes, I'm giving myself and my wife a bonus one week vacation to be used on the 10th or 11th hole.  By the way, I'll be eating and living like a caveman when I'm not golfing.  That's the price necessary to beat Mr. ABC Mortgage.  Have a great day.

Introducing Cico, Mimo and Siso

They aren't real people.  Cico (pronounced See Koe), Mimo (pronounced Me Moe) and Siso (pronounced See So) are your guides for monitoring your food, finances and spiritual self.  All three function like the gas tank in your car, truck or SUV.   The bottom line is that when Cico is in harmony, meaning calories in = calories out, you're weight is constant.  If you eat more, you need to exercise more unless you don't care about weight gain.  When you fill your tank with premium gas your body burns fuel more efficiently.  I find I can eat as much as I want when all my food choices come from fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.

We have a mimo machine at my day job for taking money in and checking money out.  The machine works great as long as our people don't ever request more money than what mimo has in her belly.  Your household runs smoothly when Mimo has funds.  She becomes high maintenance when you ignore your balance and you hit the red zone.  Auto loans and credit card interest may work when you run out of gas but you risk an opportunity to have a fun retirement.  Avoid withdrawing more money than what you have in your possession.

Siso is perhaps the least known member of the three featured today.  Like Mother Nature, you can't see her.  Siso is spirit in and spirit out.  I rely heavily on Siso to keep my attitude right.  Siso works best when invited in to your heart.  Once inside, the magic happens.  Siso is capable of multiplying on an exponential level.  I like to think of Siso as a fuel additive for my soul.  Siso also has a way of working things out when I'm in conflict with other areas of my life like the times when Cico and Mimo are tempting me to stray from my predetermined worthwhile goals.  If you want harmony in your life, go on a date with Siso and then seek a long term relationship with her.  Have a great day.

All Things Broken

I passed a significant test yesterday and it felt great.  It was my first blizzard since the accident.  My wife wanted me to stay home and cuddle in front of the fireplace.  There were others at my day job who called it a day before they got out of bed.  As tempting as my wife's offer was, I knew to the core of my being I needed to face my biggest fear – driving in challenging conditions.  It was time to get back on the horse.

My siblings were the ones who got all the broken bones in our childhood years.  My clean streak ended when I slid in front of an oncoming vehicle and got smacked in the ribs earlier this year.  My body was a mess.  The only thing unbroken was my spirit.  It seemed odd to me that the doctors would send me home 24 hours after breaking 7 bones but I trusted their judgment and went home to recover.  I was back at my day job and back on the tennis courts after two months on the sidelines.

Speaking of broken things, there's one more thing I'm breaking – bad habits.  They don't really die.  They get upgraded.  The best example I can offer from my own life experiences has to do with spending.  My old bad habit consisted of charging first and paying later.  I paid unnecessary taxes on this habit in the form of interest payments to my credit card companies.  The new habit is simple – earn the money first before charging and pay the bill as soon as it clears pending.  I pretend my credit card is a debit card and this prevents interest charges.  Those annual rebate checks from my credit card company are my favorite rewards for upgrading my behavior patterns.  It feels like moving from coach to first class.

Are there any skeletons in your closet that could use some broken bones?  Analyze your bad habits and give them a good karate chop.  Today is a good day to upgrade your bad habits.  Have a great day.

White Christmas Arrived Early Today

The forecast is for 6 to 8 inches of snow today.  It's already coming down in heavy clumps.  Yikes!  The good news is the Christmas music is already playing in our home.  Yes, the Spirit of Christmas is upon us.  I'm bundling up for our walk to church.  It will be more like dashing through the snow with these winds blowing.  Today will be an excellent opportunity to test my anxiety training should the roads remain open for my day job.  Yesterday our back yard looked like a golf course.  Today we have a scenic view of the North Pole.  There's something peculiar about this storm due to the light snow flakes and the high winds.  It's as if the snow is popping like popcorn in a popper.  I'm ready to seize the day.  Have a great day.

Thank God for Wilson

Yes, I have a family.  No, they don't give me permission to post photos on my blog or anywhere else on social media.  There are certain rare exceptions.  Hence, I have a travel buddy who is my stand in during my adventures.  Greg, our hospitality man at Hilton, agreed to be photographed as we were departing for home.  He granted permission when I told him I'm a writer and I use these pictures for my travel stories.  I can't say enough good things about Hilton.  They understand hospitality.  I'll share more about them in future blog messages.

Wilson and my family are all home safe after a fabulous Thanksgiving.  It's time to get to my day job.  Have a great day.

My Most Creative Thanksgiving

When Jesus left the other 99 in search of the one who was lost, it wasn't to upset the group he left behind.  They were safe and secure.  There was plenty of home cooked food to share.  The one who was separated needed some TLC.  My wife and I did the same thing when we got the call about our loved one who was feeling homesick during the Holiday season.  What a blessing it turned out to be.

It's time to return to the fold today.  We're thankful for the opportunity to share Thanksgiving with our daughter and her friends.  The hotel provided a complimentary feast for her group.  We shared an apple pie given to us by our realtor.  She jumped through so many hoops to get us our home nearly seven years ago when she appeared as a shepherd in search of a lost sheep.  I think she sensed my Guardian angel watching over me when I told her, "I have no money, no job and no credit."  God bless the people who work miracles to give shelter to the lost sheep.  Have a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving

Does anything in the picture above catch your eye?  For me, it's mesmerizing.  Yes, yes – I'm thankful for my health, home, family, friends and food.  There's something else in the picture you may have overlooked at first glance.  It's YOU.  Thank you for visiting daily, for being a part of all my pumpkins and for inspiring me to appreciate all the blessings in my life.  Like the blind man who summed it up when he met Jesus, I have this to say... "I was blind but now I see."  Thank you for opening my eyes to what's important.  Happy Thanksgiving.  Have a great day.

All Life is an Experiment

What are you waiting for?  The day you were born is the day the experiment started.  There aren't any expiration dates.  As long as you're willing to try new ideas, the experiment continues.  There was a time in your life when you needed to rely on others for everything.  One day you woke up and tried crawling.  A whole new world opened up.  Your perspective expanded exponentially when you stood up and took your first step.  Those stumbles never stopped you from advancing.  Everything you tried was an experiment.  Don't stop now.

I'm discovering there's one common ingredient in our lives we can live without if we really want to test the limits or our experiment – fear.  Fear cripples.  When fear is your roommate, you look around and only see what's missing.  Opportunity is on the other side of the locked door.  The experiment ceases.  I prefer to close my eyes and count my blessings.  I have everything I need to make this experiment an opportunity of a lifetime.  How?  I'm going to blend, chop, grind, mix and frappe all the ingredients I have and run, jump, climb and fly over every obstacle in front of me until my last breath.  The smile on my face at the end of my life will tell others there was a successful outcome at the conclusion of the experiment.  How about you?  How many experiments are you ready to try today?  Have a great day.

Day 7 of 7

It's day 7 of 7 at my day job today.  The stars are in alignment for three days of family fun starting tomorrow.  Since one of our loved ones has a job that requires working on major Holidays, we decided to find creative ways to spend time together.  When she can't come to the party, we bring the party to her.  Let's just say we're expanding our horizons.

I would like to thank one of my favorite blog readers for reaching out to me yesterday in support of my golfing challenges, aka debt reduction for beginners.  The reality is most of us don't realize we're confined in debt prison. High interest rates and penalties for late or missed payments may as well be a life sentence.  My escape is as well thought out as Andy's from the Shawshank Redemption.  Our youngest son remarked I was cooler than Morgan Freeman, Andy's sidekick who was rewarded with enough cash after his release to live comfortably in his retirement years.  Even though the comment about my coolness was made while he was coming out of anesthesia, I appreciate his kind words and aspire to be free once my escape plan is hatched.

The key to any good plan is to make it so vivid and detailed that you can't get lost.  After all, debt prison is like a confusing labyrinth and the creditors design it to keep their customers walled in for life.  Andy made chess pieces in prison.  I'm creating a massive 36 hole golf course and the last hole is where my treasure chest is buried with my mortgage document inside.  There are two par threes in May and November this first year and the other ten holes are par twos.  The idea is to make par 36 times over 36 months.  Par is the additional money necessary to pay down the principle.  Why a golf course?  Because debt reduction can be fun if you're willing to visualize a successful outcome.  Have a great day.

Winning Habits

We didn't get the team win yesterday.  I told my doubles partner I believe practicing once a week isn't enough for me against these savvy senior players, many retired, who play regularly during the week.  That's what winning habits do for you, they set you up for victory in every area of your life.  While my tennis game may be less that what I desire right now, I've been working hard to put the rest of my life on a series of daily routines that appear to be worthwhile.

It's not necessary to re-invent yourself all at once.  I believe small changes work better than total makeovers, especially when you commit 100% to making a new habit stick and stay with it until it becomes permanent before moving on.

If you're like me, a new habit may appear like a golf ball.  In the early stages, that golf ball is all over the place, rarely landing in the green when you hit it, especially if your last name happens to be Mulligan.  I already know my golf ball will be in the sand trap when I begin making the necessary additional monthly payments needed to pay off our mortgage in 36 months.  My "sand traps" are unexpected repairs, temptations to eat out, property taxes twice a year, and income taxes.  Am I going to give up when the golf ball drifts?  Hell no.  This habit is a 36 hole golf course and I'm not leaving until that last putt is sunk and I achieve financial independence.  I can work on my tennis game later in the Spring when playing outdoors is free.

What price are you willing to pay to develop winning habits?  I recommend you find three friends and ask them to join you on your journey.  Help each other to reach your goals.  I'll see you on the course.  Have a great day.

Indoor Fun Today

It's time to hit the courts for some indoor fun in the Men's 55+ division this morning before heading off to my day job.  Although we're currently in last place in a four team division where we face off twice against each opponent, the matches have been close and we have a chance to climb out of the cellar with a team win.  I'm eagerly awaiting two players to join our team when they become age eligible on Jan 1.  In football terms, today's match is the end of the second quarter.  If we can stay close until the fresh legs come in late in the 4th quarter, I believe we can surprise our opponents and advance to the playoffs.  I wish I could borrow Phil Rivers, the quarterback of the Chargers, for one of his half-time pep talks.  My family never counted him out during the months of November and December when he thrilled fans with his never die spirit.  All I can say is, win or lose, it's going to be a fun day today.  Have a great day.

My Shortest Short Story

It's three minutes before departure for my day job.  It was a morning of trouble shooting and all the fixes are done but I'm short on time and it's snowing.  What a great opportunity to continue my anxiety training.  See you tomorrow.  Have a great day.

What Can You Achieve in the Final 45 Days of the Year?

There's no waiting in line at the gym today.  Why not get in shape before the rest of the world jumps in?  Set your goals now and achieve them before this year comes to a conclusion 45 days from today.  Forget those diet crazes.  Fine tune your body now by eating like your caveman ancestors and get results before the calendar flips.

My plan is to have no new resolutions in 2019.  The plan will already be in place.  It's amazing what you can achieve in 45 days if you get busy and get focused.  I challenge you to skip processed foods for the remainder of the year and eat mostly fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.  You can cheat 10% of the time if you need to.  Measure your results daily and see what happens.  Have a great day.

Stretch Your Budget With Rewards

The next three years of my life are going to be interesting.  The outside observer may argue there's no room for fun and games with such an airtight budget.  It's all about rewards.  The biggest payoff is the mortgage payoff at the end of this 36 month experience.  The smaller rewards are already factored in and accounted for.  For example, I'm making sure our 30th wedding anniversary is celebrated on the same island where it all started with a proposal on a secluded beach in Maui.  We'll be back and it won't break the bank even though we're booked for two weeks early next year.  The hotel is prepaid.  We're flying standby and we're using our credit card reward certificate to cover the rental for our convertible which comes with a free upgrade.  It also helps that my day job has a location across the street from the airport so we can get our food at mainland prices.  Snorkeling and walks on the beach are free.  The look on her face when I tell her she looks as beautiful as she did thirty years ago will be absolutely priceless.

Dave Ramsey tells his followers, "live like no one else so you can live like no one else."  I already am.  I may be one of the few from his tribe who actually use a credit card but I do believe it can assist with debt payoff when used with proper discipline and I make sure to keep my balance at zero in order to avoid paying interest.  A splurge like Maui doesn't have to break the bank when you use rewards to help offset the costs.  Have fun with your budget.  It will help you stay on track.  Have a great day.

With God All Things Are Possible

Consider all the challenges ahead of you.  Are you facing these alone?  I've been there, done that.  Teams are much better, especially when Jesus is the captain.  Even when the ship is sinking and everyone else jumps overboard because the cause appears hopeless, you will not drown as long as Jesus is in the boat.  Remain calm.  Breathe.  Take good notes.  Someday you may want to publish all the good that Jesus is doing in your life so that others may have hope.  Have a great day.

Got Plans for Friday?

Mark your calendar.  Three days from today, on Friday, November 16, you can begin something that may forever change your life.  This is the time of year most people blow it.  They eat foods they shouldn't eat, cut corners on exercise, and make a bunch of resolutions they don't keep just to cover up the guilt they have from another year of failed expectations.  Does this sound familiar?  Give yourself three days to think about an idea I have for you.  It will require 45 days of changing your daily routine.  The payoff is that you can kiss all those resolutions good-bye because you won't have to feel guilty about your life.  Stay with me for one more paragraph and let's do this.

Take a look at your calendar for the remainder of this year.  If there are any end-of-year parties, mark "2 glasses of wine" on each entry.  Take a look at your scheduled shopping trips.  When you go, take this list with you and stick to it – fruits, veggies, nuts, beans, seeds, wine.  If your food items have labels on the packaging, don't put them in your cart.  When you wake up every morning, step on the scale and record your weight.  Then, exercise for five minutes.  Set the timer.  Don't cheat.  Walking counts.  Drink water.  Two glasses of wine per day are okay but no more than that.  Your goal is to avoid all processed foods for 45 days.  Follow these suggestions for 45 days beginning this Friday and see what happens.  On New Years Eve, you can say, "Happy New Year."  You can also say, "Happy Old Year."  Have a great day.  Don't forget to mark your calendar for Friday.

Best Medicine for Your Mind, Body and Spirit

My wife and I have another rare day off together today.  It's the perfect day to stay indoors while the snow flurries are dancing around outside.  Days like these are really special.  I'm going to savor every minute.  It's time to crank up the fireplace and make some hot chocolate.  Have a great day.

Happy Veterans Day

Our youngest son is celebrating his first Veterans Day today.  I would like to thank him and all the others who served our country.  I would also like to thank those who played a role in mentoring and shaping our son into the fine young man he is today.  My father, an ex-marine sergeant who served at the tail end of the Korean War, used to say, "it's a two-way street."  My interpretation of this is, you get what you give.  Anyone willing to sacrifice his or her own life for others deserves to be honored today and everyday.

On this day exactly one hundred years ago, World War I ended.  Those brave soldiers are no longer around to thank.  Take a moment today to thank a veteran for serving our country.  Have a great day.  Happy Veterans Day.

Shards of Glass Fuel Creativity

Those shards of glass you see are my book chapters.  I see them as puzzle pieces.  The casual observer may only see brokenness.  I see an opportunity to change lives.  The stakes are high.  There's something Supernatural going on here and I can't escape even though there are times when I just want to run and hide from this project.  It's a calling.

Not long ago, I found myself spinning out of control on an icy road.  Two of the windows exploded on impact.  Shards of glass were flying all around my daughter and me as we spun around backwards after colliding with an oncoming van traveling at 50 mph.  Miraculously, only one fragment struck my daughter on her lip.  Other than the tiny cut, she was unscathed.  Most of the other broken pieces of glass ended up scattered on the highway along with my daughter's belongings.  My body was heavily damaged and I pretty much thought I was a dead man.  I prayed for healing.  So did many others.  Twenty-four hours later I was released from the trauma center at the University of Iowa Hospital and sent home.  No surgery was required for my injured spleen, my partially collapsed lung or my seven broken ribs.  My body was healing without intervention.

I kept asking myself, "why am I here?"  The answer appears to be in those unwritten chapters.   I must share my story about the caveman food experiment my cousin asked me to try.  His intervention was necessary in order to get me on a path to good health.  The doctors who treated me for my auto accident told me it was my superior physical fitness that allowed my speedy recovery.  My cousin told me I had two strikes against me.  The auto accident would have been strike three.  My life has been extended.  It's time to create a mosaic out of those shards of glass and share my lessons about food with others.  Have a great day.

First Fall Snow

It's opportunity day today.  This is my first time driving in the snow since my auto accident earlier in the year.  My health insurance company recommended I try some anxiety coaching to help me overcome my fear of getting behind the wheel again.  My wife drove everywhere during the first couple of months my recovery.  I started with short trips to the post office. My breathing techniques came in handy when I ventured into new places with unfamiliar roads.  I'm sure family members appreciate that I no longer gasp when other vehicles encroach on my comfort zone.

There's no room for fear in my life.  I felt like a hypocrite when I was writing stories about no fear while I was a prisoner held captive by my own anxiety about driving.  The male brain prefers not asking for help.  The truth is I needed help big time and I'm thankful for the coaching I received.  I'll see you on the road.  Be safe.  Have a great day.

What Price Will You Pay for Financial Freedom?

A loved one asked recently about 401k contributions.  The best time to ask these questions is while the ink is still drying on your high school or college diploma.  Time is on your side.  In fact, time is your greatest ally.  The longer you wait to ask questions about retirement planning, the longer you need to wait until financial freedom is achieved.

There are two pricing structures you can choose from when determining just how much you're willing to pay for financial independence.  Pay now and you will forego indulgences and splurges.  Pay later and you will pay a higher price due to your missing ally – time.  Time multiplies.  A twenty-something-year-old will see time double earnings every seven to ten years depending on the rate of return.  A $10,000 investment doubled six times becomes $640,000.  Not bad.

Beware of anything that subtracts from financial freedom.  Anything you pay to others for the use of their money usually results in a big negative.  Credit card interest is one of the biggest challenges and must be eliminated in order to become financially independent.  Do the math.  Multiply using time and avoid subtractions by cutting out credit card debt.  Decide today what price you're willing to pay to get maximum dividends in your retirement years.  Have a great day.

Kudos to the Billing Department at University of Iowa Hospital

The ambulance ride to the hospital after my auto accident in February was longer than expected due to the heavy snow blanketing the interstate.  The longer journey was making sure my hospital bills got paid.  When it appeared my auto insurance company and my health insurance company were gridlocked, I turned to the billing department at the hospital for help.  They agreed to help me sort out each bill, item by item, and make conference calls to my insurance company with me on the line.  It's all over now.  Although my portion of the bill was small, my two insurance companies paid out over $50,000 on my claim.  The hospital allowed me to go on an interest free payment plan for my portion of the co-pays.  I made my final payment yesterday.  Oh what a relief it is to have this behind me.

The hospital representative was happy to pass along my gratitude to the staff who saved my life.   "I'm glad you had a good experience with us," the representative said.  "We rarely hear compliments in our billing department."  I  told her that the only thing that hurts more than seven broken ribs is paying interest.  Now that the hospital is paid in full, I'm ready for the final mountain climb to financial freedom – a paid off mortgage.  My wife and I are in this together.  Our target is three years.  It's a worthwhile pursuit of freedom in financial independence.  Have a great day.

A Yellow Submarine Story About My Household

I was six years old when the Beatles released their hit song, "The Yellow Submarine."  Many wondered what it was all about.  The Beatles meant for it to be a children's song.  Five decades later, I see new meaning in the lyrics.  One of the verses goes like this...

Full speed ahead Mr. Boatswain, full speed ahead
Full speed ahead it is, Sergeant.
Cut the cable, drop the cable
Aye, Sir, aye
Captain, captain

I feel like Paul McCartney is speaking directly to my own personal yellow submarine, about to leave port for a three year journey to financial freedom.  The preparations are underway and on the check list is (drumroll please, Ringo)...cut the cable!  If all goes well, I plan to raise the periscope and see what life looks like with financial independence.  There was a time in my life not long ago when the waters were so murky I couldn't see a way out.  Our yellow submarine was lost somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle.   Now it's time to move full speed ahead, Mr. Boatswain, and fulfill a dream most consider a fairy tale.  This yellow submarine will no longer have a mortgage attached to the the deed.  It's the last hurdle.  Destination?  Sea of Tranquility.  I know, I know, it's on the moon.  Full speed ahead.  I'm ready for launch.  Have a great day.

Do This Before You Set a Major Goal

A house divided against itself cannot stand.  The same is true when an individual sets a goal that is not supported by the family.  Changing your food program on your own?  Good luck.  Setting a goal to exercise and the rest of the family chooses the couch?  The odds of success are already stacked against you.  Want to reduce your debt and you live with free spenders?  Send in the clowns.  Major goals need family support.  Without team effort, your goals are on life support.

Sit down with your family and share why your goals are important.  Get agreement that you will not be alone in your quest.  I'm fortunate my wife supports me 100% in our 36 month challenge to rid ourselves of our mortgage.  I'm taking a page out of Dave Ramsey's book – we choose to live like no one else so we can live like no one else.  Step one is agreement we're in this together and we need to be strong in times of temptation.  I will keep you posted along the way.  Have a great day.

Got Discipline?

What needs to be done today to make your life better?  If you're not sure where to start, why not make a list of one hundred ideas?  Write them down and then think about how much time you need to invest in each item to cross it off your list.  Some ideas may yield minor improvements while others can be life changing if you manage to overcome all the obstacles in your way.

Imagine what your life will look like if make daily discipline a habit.  Start with the easy tasks on your list and keep going until you develop discipline.  Your future self will thank you.  Have a great day.

Three Slices of the Debt Pie

The pie chart pictured above represents my mortgage debt and it's divided in three slices.  Each slice is one year.  I have a feeling when the three years is up I will never again want to eat any more pie.  Debt leaves a bad after taste. It causes heavy burdens on family finances.  Some households will be eating pie long after retirement.  No matter how you slice it, it's hard to swallow.  I recommend you eat as much as possible and don't stop until it's all gone.  By the way, I promise you will never hear me complain about my pie.  In fact, I'm going to have three years of fun.  I'm concentrating on the pay off at the end of the three years while I chomp away.  

Take a good look at your pie and decide how many slices you can handle until it's all gone.  Have a great day.

Joy Meter Check

It's time to check your joy meter today.  Ask yourself, "on a one to ten scale, how much joy do I have in my life?"

If' your answer is anything less than a ten, please read on.  Dig a little deeper.  Search for the blessings in your life. What are you thankful for?   Please don't skip over those situations in your life that may be causing you pain or hardship.  These may be the very things that uncover new opportunities.  These may be the situations that reveal who your real friends are.  I choose not to label these areas of my life as burdens because they almost always turn into blessings.  Everything matters – blessings, challenges, conflict, unexpected news.  I put every one of these items on my gratitude list.  My joy meter will always be at a ten.  This is my personal choice.   Perhaps this has something to do with my faith.  I believe God has a plan for me and every morning when I wake up I'm ready to follow wherever He leads me.  I have no idea when my time is up in this world but I do know the journey is extraordinary and there is good in every situation.  How about you?  Got joy?  Is it a ten?  You get to choose.  Have a great day.

How to Maximize Your Uber Rating

A five star Uber rating is simple if you follow the golden rule.  My rating didn't show up until recently because I live in a remote area and rarely get the opportunity to use this amazing service.  My favorite Uber driver was a grandmother of six who became a driver in order to help raise several of her grandkids.  Another driver purchased a new vehicle that gets 46 miles per gallon so he can put more money in his pocket.  These people really enjoy their work and love it when you show them you care about them.

If you want five star service from your Uber driver, make sure you give them five star treatment.  Compliment them on a speedy pickup.  Ask them about the favorite part of their job.  Get them to share ideas about what's going on in their community.  These folks can enhance your vacation experience if you tap into their experiences.  I always thank my driver at the end of the trip and tell them they're getting five stars from me for their great service.   These drivers will return the favor if you treat them with respect.  Have a great day.